Bolton business Arena is brightening up the town's workplaces one roll of wallpaper at a time

From Love Hearts to shark tanks and cityscapes to waterfalls – four plain walls can become an inspiration thanks to the imaginative creations of Arena Creative Design.

The Bolton agency has been transforming office rooms into inspiring places to work with its bespoke designs and wall graphics over the last four years.

Pop into some of the headquarters of the town’s best known businesses and you will not fail to spot their touch.

Be it a football pitch in meeting room or beach scene in kitchen – each one has been created with employees in mind.

And it is not just Bolton, the team founded by Martin Dickson, have even been across to Germany to lend a touch of magic to the AO.com offices.

Director Mr Dickson, a father of two who works alongside his wife and operations director Anita Dickson, said: “Bolton is growing, there’s a lot of investment into the town. I want to be part of making it look even better and engaging the workforce.

“We have been going for six years in Bolton since I set up the design agency on my own.

“We have worked with major businesses in the town and transformed their office environments.

“So much money is spent by businesses on cars, business cards, receptions of buildings but go beyond the reception and it’s quite different.

“People are now starting to realise staff and the spaces they work in are just as important. They need a good environment too.”

Among the examples are using bespoke wallpapers to turn shared office space into a place to provide inspiration – such as in the Franking Sense office.

Playing on the idea of a ‘Think Tank,’ splashes of colourful orange fish appear alongside black and white faux bookcases holding hidden messages.

At KBS Corporate, the designs reflect its growing business aims of working around the UK with images of cityscapes and inspiring quotes from the likes of Mo Farah and Muhammad Ali in the onsite gym.

At Gresham, the team worked on the furniture manufactures’ showroom, this time hoping to inspire buyers and show off the designs while their work can also be found on the everyday high street like Miller Metcalfe.

The team created a unique space for visitors which includes private booths and bringing in specially designed tables which include a space for buggies and wheelchair users.

More unusual twists can be found in places like the LOVE Energy offices where there are walls of Love Heart sweets baring motivation captions or wallpaper brick walls with graffitied hearts.

Some of the companies biggest work has been with AO.com, fitting out both its Bolton and Germany offices.

Be it football-themed bathrooms or meeting rooms, smiling boxes on elevator doors or personal touches like a wall made-up of pictures of employees favourite things – each one is designed to be unique and inspiring.

Mr Dickson added: “Offices can be bland places to work. I think some people worry we are going to come in with weird ideas but it does not have to be a wall full of jelly beans, it can be as simple as bringing in a bit of the city.

“It doesn’t have to be wacky or funky, it can be subtle and stylish as well.

“People realise they get more out of their staff if they are working in a nice place. The work life balance has to be right.”

Of course Arena could not forget its own office based in Chorley New Road.

Pop in there and you get a flavour of everything it has to offer – from a subtle touch of energising colour on the walls and glass doors to personalised graphics and inspiring words emblazoned on walls.

There’s even a hint of humour if you happen to come across the office loft hatch – now a shark tank!